Wednesday, December 30, 2015

RIDGELAND, MS: Renaissance Manager, Andrew Mattiace, stated, “We are devastated at the destruction of The Renaissance at Colony Park Italian Fountain and want to thank everyone that has expressed concern. This custom designed, quarried marble fountain is the focal point of the main entrance to the Center, and has become an area landmark and tourist destination. It is a favorite location for family, school group and prom photos.

We have been in communication with the fabricator and technicians that installed the Fountain. They are working with our photographs and will be on site next week to further review the extent of the damage. We look forward to having the horses repaired in early 2016.

We are thankful that our on-site security team was able to witness and report the offense, and we are grateful for the quick response from the Ridgeland Police Department and their apprehension of the perpetrator before he did further damage or worse, harmed someone.”

Kingfish note: Thank you, Mr. Mattiace, for providing this statement. More than a few people were outraged by what happened to that piece of beautiful artwork. The suspect, Charles Branch, is bound over to the Madison County grand jury. The grand jury meets on January 13, 2016.

Branch was arrested earlier this year for trying to cut down the horse statues in front of P.F. Chang's with a chainsaw. It is not known if he was wearing overalls and asked for a Nehi belly washer. Page two of the incident report posted below contains the details of that attack. It is probably safe to say that Branch is probably mentally ill.

Branch is currently held in the Madison County jail on a $2,500 bond. However, sources tell JJ that his family refuses to post bail for the suspect.

20 comments:

Another instance of a mentally unstable person off their meds or what ever. Thankfully he nor any other person was hurt or killed and it was only the statue that was hurt. I think the family is doing the right thing by not posting bond. NOW, maybe the city courts and elected judges will do the right thing and have this guy committed before something REALLY bad happens to him and the cops get blamed or he hurts or kills someone.

Sure wish Andy showed this much conscious when he decided to stiff Ridgeland on the TIF tax payments he owed. Better hire an private army Andy, it only gets worse and some of us law abiding taxpayers won't be on your side when the chaos breaks out.

...Andrew Mattiace, stated, “We are devastated at the destruction of The Renaissance at Colony Park Italian Fountain and want to thank everyone that has expressed concern."give me a break, thankful it was not a active gunman, still thinking of the nice grandmother in town for business gunned down at Logan's, her mistake was being in a parking lot.

I just looked at the home of the Medusa-like thing with the scary eyebrows (what did people do, before Google?). The shutters are PINK. There are exactly Three shrubs in the yard (FHA minimum), even though it's a 1960s 'Fine Brick Dream Home'. And there's a little pink outbuilding in back, with bars in front of the door.

Is the little pink structure where the creature is normally kept 'put-up'? Did it get loose?

Even if 8:12 pm and this crazy vandal could be involuntarily committed by the court for being " a danger to themselves or others", once they were stabilized on their meds, they'd have to be released. Once released, no one can make them stay on their meds.

Attacking a statues of horses is not likely seen by the court as being dangerous to themselves or other humans.

Unfortunately, judges don't know much about mental illness so someone will have to be hurt first and psychiatrists are not willing to risk being sued by some ambulance chaser wanting a piece of their malpractice insurance to testify a danger until it happens.

And, KF, you might find it interesting to look at the Whitfield board that decides who is or isn't released. Ask about their decision process.

The law needs to be changed. You can protect the rights of the mentally ill without putting even statues in danger!

As usual, though, the political extremists on the left and right prevent any practical solutions.

7:06 is singing my song. Yes, it is a menace to society to release people just because they are "stabilized" on meds. Almost all quit taking their meds when given freedom. This is proven over and over and over. Is there any case being taken up the chain to change the Supreme Court's decision to release these dangerous people back into society on a wholesale basis. Some may become responsible and keep taking meds, but a review of non-addicted homeless persons ought to convince the Court otherwise.

Recently, it was announced that a form of slow release medication is now available; one that cannot be removed. Tie the medication to the checks and many people would be able to lead much more normal lives and not be a danger to themselves and others.

Have no idea what is wrong with the statue attacker but reported behavior seems to indicate a very sick mind and no impulse control. Not a candidate for running free.

Face Facts Folks (as the lawyer says in his commercial).....There is no way to control crazies or anticipate their behavior.

Every time one of them creates a problem of national acclaim, we start moaning about mental health, people saying something when they see something and changing the rules so we can restrain people in institutions.

That bad things will happen doesn't mean that we are helpless in reducing the probabilities.

Moreover, if you do nothing, you guarantee bad things will happen!

We did a much better job of reducing the impact of mental illness on society in the past. Until the early '70's families were able to get help for family members with mental illness . Whitfield had long term care for those so mentally ill or dangerous that they couldn't function in society.

There's the reason we didn't see homeless people on the street very often. They were picked up by police and taken to a treatment facility where the sometimes managed to improve.

Once upon a time, you could even take a substance abuse addict and have them involuntarily " dried out" for 21 days so that you were at that point, talking to a human and not to the drugs or alcohol. Removing the symptoms of withdrawal and addiction , sometimes worked.

Waiting for those who are abusing drugs or alcohol " to hit bottom" is inviting brain damage and possible death and was and is one of the dumbest scientifically baseless notions to ever be politically and culturally embraced in a long list of '60s and '70's pop culture nonsense! It is right up there with the " right to be crazy" which assumes a well and rational person would choose insanity. The mentally ill are just that " ill". And, diagnosis and treatment, especially with the invention of the MRI so we can now see what is happening in the brain and understand more of the body's chemistry as well, has advanced dramatically.

Who is the Hottest Reporter in Jackson?

Trollfest '09

Trollfest '07 was such a success that Jackson Jambalaya will once again host Trollfest '09. Catch this great event which will leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Othor Cain and his band, The Black Power Structure headline the night while Sonjay Poontang returns for an encore performance. Former Frank Melton bodyguard Marcus Wright makes his premier appearance at Trollfest singing "I'm a Sweet Transvestite" from "The Rocky Horror Picture Show." Kamikaze will sing his new hit, “How I sold out to da Man.” Robbie Bell again performs: “Mamas, don't let your babies grow up to be Bells” and “Any friend of Ed Peters is a friend of mine”. After the show, Ms. Bell will autograph copies of her mug shot photos. In a salute to “Dancing with the Stars”, Ms. Bell and Hinds County District Attorney Robert Smith will dance the Wango Tango.

Wrestling returns, except this time it will be a Battle Royal with Othor Cain, Ben Allen, Kim Wade, Haley Fisackerly, Alan Lange, and “Big Cat” Donna Ladd all in the ring at the same time. The Battle Royal will be in a steel cage, no time limit, no referee, and the losers must leave town. Marshand Crisler will be the honorary referee (as it gives him a title without actually having to do anything). Meet KIM Waaaaaade at the Entergy Tent. For five pesos, Kim will sell you a chance to win a deed to a crack house on Ridgeway Street stuffed in the Howard Industries pinata. Don't worry if the pinata is beaten to shreds, as Mr. Wade has Jose, Emmanuel, and Carlos, all illegal immigrants, available as replacements for the it. Upon leaving the Entergy tent, fig leaves will be available in case Entergy literally takes everything you have as part of its Trollfest ticket price adjustment charge.

Donna Ladd of The Jackson Free Press will give several classes on learning how to write. Smearing, writing without factchecking, and reporting only one side of a story will be covered. A donation to pay their taxes will be accepted and she will be signing copies of their former federal tax liens. Ms. Ladd will give a dramatic reading of her two award-winning essays (They received The Jackson Free Press "Best Of" awards.) "Why everything is always about me" and "Why I cover murders better than anyone else in Jackson".

In the spirit of helping those who are less fortunate, Trollfest '09 adopts a cause for which a portion of the proceeds and donations will be donated: Keeping Frank Melton in his home. The “Keep Frank Melton From Being Homeless” booth will sell chances for five dollars to pin the tail on the jackass. John Reeves has graciously volunteered to be the jackass for this honorable excursion into saving Frank's ass. What's an ass between two friends after all? If Mr. Reeves is unable to um, perform, Speaker Billy McCoy has also volunteered as when the word “jackass” was mentioned he immediately ran as fast as he could to sign up. In order to help clean up the legal profession, Adam Kilgore of the Mississippi Bar will be giving away free, round-trip plane tickets to the North Pole where they keep their bar complaint forms (which are NOT available online). If you don't want to go to the North Pole, you can enjoy Brant Brantley's (of the Mississippi Commission on Judicial Performance) free guided tours of the quicksand field over by High Street where all complaints against judges disappear. If for some reason you are unable to control yourself, never fear; Judge Houston Patton will operate his jail where no lawyers are needed or allowed as you just sit there for minutes... hours.... months...years until he decides he is tired of you sitting in his jail. Do not think Judge Patton is a bad judge however as he plans to serve free Mad Dog 20/20 to all inmates.

Trollfest '09 is a pet-friendly event as well. Feel free to bring your dog with you and do not worry if your pet gets hungry, as employees of the Jackson Zoo will be on hand to provide some of their animals as food when it gets to be feeding time for your little loved one.

Relax at the Fox News Tent. Since there are only three blonde reporters in Jackson (being blonde is a requirement for working at Fox News), Megan and Kathryn from WAPT and Wendy from WLBT will be on loan to Fox. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both and a torn-up Obama yard sign will entitle you to free drinks served by Megan, Wendy, and Kathryn. Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required. Just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '09 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.Note: Security provided by INS.

Trollfest '07

Jackson Jambalaya is the home of Trollfest '07. Catch this great event which promises to leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Sonjay Poontang and his band headline the night with a special steel cage, no time limit "loser must leave town" bout between Alan Lange and "Big Cat"Donna Ladd following afterwards. Kamikaze will perform his new song F*** Bush, he's still a _____. Did I mention there was no referee? Dr. Heddy Matthias and Lori Gregory will face off in the undercard dueling with dangling participles and other um, devices. Robbie Bell will perform Her two latest songs: My Best Friends are in the Media and Mama's, Don't Let Your Babies Grow up to be George Bell. Sid Salter of The Clarion-Ledger will host "Pin the Tail on the Trial Lawyer", sponsored by State Farm.

There will be a hugging booth where in exchange for your young son, Frank Melton will give you a loooong hug. Trollfest will have a dunking booth where Muhammed the terrorist will curse you to Allah as you try to hit a target that will drop him into a vat of pig grease. However, in the true spirit of Separate But Equal, Don Imus and someone from NE Jackson will also sit in the dunking booth for an equal amount of time. Tom Head will give a reading for two hours on why he can't figure out who the hell he is. Cliff Cargill will give lessons with his .80 caliber desert eagle, using Frank Melton photos as targets. Tackleberry will be on hand for an autograph session. KIM Waaaaaade will be passing out free titles and deeds to crackhouses formerly owned by The Wood Street Players.

If you get tired come relax at the Fox News Tent. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both will entitle you to free drinks.Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required, just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '07 is for EVERYONE!!!